Successful meals program to launch in Ballarat

Since 2006, young people at risk of homelessness in Geelong have had access to a cafe meals program that aims to make them feel part of the community at the same time as filling their stomachs with healthy food. The program has been a great success and is now being set up in Ballarat.

Young people in Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Colac who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can join the program by being referred by their GP or youth worker.

The young person is then allocated a membership which allows them 12 visits to 14 cafes that have joined the program, where they pay three dollars for a health meal and drink.

The manager of the Cafe Meals program, Time for Youth's Melanie Craig, says it offers another option to young people who are going through a crisis.

"We wanted to provide another option as opposed to going to a church dinner or a soup kitchen. We wanted to provide something that made the young people feel part of the community and to choose where they want to eat, with whom and at what time."

She says an important aspect of the program is nutrition.

"One of the studies that was done showed that the young people that were interviewed, none of them were reaching their nutrient requirements."

Ms Craig says it's important that young people can depend on the program.

"And because the card looks like a coffee club card the young person doesn't feel like their a charity or getting a handout."

She says all the feedback has been positive.

"The young people feel that the program makes them feel part of the community, they try foods they've never been exposed to, their confidence is built, they love getting to know the cafe owners, they love being able to have a chat in the cafe."

Ms Craig says it also offers the young people a safe place where they can begin rebuilding any broken relationships with family members.

Katrina Bloot Hoofd is the owner of a Geelong cafe that's signed up to the program.

"I've built up a really good rapport with some of the young kids."

She says the changes in the young people have been obvious.

"Some of the kids that've come in at the start were probably really timid or quiet, over the time it's built they're confidence up. They're really otugoing, their manners are amazing, they're really friendly, it's just a really good program."

Crystal Adams has been a member of the Cafe Meals program for just over a year. She says it's changed her life and been wonderful for her physical and mental health.

"It's been amazing, because it's almost been like a friend to me, a bit of a support network.

"I know that whatever I'm going through, if I'm stressed or anxious or a bit upset I will walk into a cafe on the program and immediately I feel safe and I feel at home, and I feel part of the community."

Ms Adams says when she joined the program she had recently moved out of home and was struggling to eat healthily and consistently.

"I didn't have any support and I didn't know even how to cook an egg, so to be honest I didn't eat properly and when I did eat it would probably be just a snack box from KFC.

"It's definitely changed the way I feel. It's inspired me to not only learn how to cook but gain an aprpenticeship in the hospitality industry. I'm really passionate about healthy food."